Vaporizer nozzle



Sept. 10, 1935. M KATZMAN VAPORIZER NOZZLE FM4/wv TTUR EYS Filed Aug. 2l, 1953 Patented Sept. l0, 1935 UNiTED STATES PATENT OFFICE ZCIaimS.

This invention relates to a combined vaporizing and spraying apparatus adapted to be used in hospitals, homes and other enclosures for generating and distributing disinfectant, insecti- 5 cide or deodorant vapors into the ambient atmosphere.

The main object is to provide a simple, compact and elcient device of this character whichA is entirely safe and automatic in its operation l and may be made and sold at a comparatively low cost.

Another object is to provide a special form of spray nozzle having one of its branches connected to the ller tube of the vapor container l and another branch adapted to be inserted into the uid in the other container preferably through the cover thereof whereby the passage of the vapor from the rst container through the nozzle will automatically cause the fluid from the second container to be discharged therewith through the same nozzle.

A further object is to provide the vapor conduit of the spray nozzle with a tubular extension telescopically inserted therein co-axial therewith and provided with a restricted passage therethrough and also provided with a lengthwise peripheral passage communicating with the other branch conduit and with the outer end of the nozzle to facilitate the spraying of the liquid in the second container as the vapor emerge from the rst conduit. i

Another object is to utilize the upper end of the second branch conduit as a means for holding the tubular extension of the rst conduit in operative position.

Other objects and uses relating to specic parts of the apparatus will be brought out in the following description.

In the drawing:-

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a combined vaporizing and spraying apparatus embodying the various features of my invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken on line 2 2, Figure 1, the spark-plug and electric heater being shown in elevation.

Figures 3, 4, and 5 are further enlarged sectional views taken respectively in the planes of lines 3 3, 4 4, and 5 5, Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a detail sectional view taken in the plane of line 6 5, Figure 2.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the detached tubular extension for the vapor-delivery tube.

As illustrated, this apparatus comprises a main supporting frame I consisting of cross bars 2 and 3, secured together at the crossings to form a suitable supporting base, said bars being disposed at right angles to each other and having their outer ends bent upwardly to form upright arms 4, 5 and 6, which are arranged in uniformly spaced relation circumferentially 5 about a common axis passing through the center of the crossing portions of the bars for receiving between them a receptacle or a container A.

The arm 4 extends upwardly the major portion of the height of the receptacle A and is returned 10 outwardly and downwardly to form a handle 1, the lower end of the outwardly and downwardly turned portion of the arm being spot-welded or otherwise permanently secured to the inner portion of the arm 4 for stitfening and bracing the 15 handle.

The remaining arms 5 and 6 areof considerably less vertical height than that of lthe arm 4 to assist in holding the receptacle or container A centrally on the base portion of the frame and 20 also to prevent vertical displacement of the receptacle from the frame when the heating element, presently described, is energized in the manner hereinafter more fully explained.

A horizontal bar 8, preferably of spring metal 25 is riveted at 9 or otherwise secured intermediate its ends to the upper end of the upright arm 5 to form a part of the main supporting frame and is provided with opposite jaws I0 curved in opposite directions for receiving between them a sec- 30 ond container or receptacle B to assist in holding the latter against lateral displacement.

The other ends of the jaws I0 are provided with eyes II for receiving the opposite arms of a U-shaped clamping member I2 which, when in 35 operative position, firmly holds the jaws I0 in operative engagement with the corresponding sides of the receptacle B, but when removed permits the jaws to be sprung laterally away from each other, thereby allowing the receptacle 40 B to be removed in the manner hereinafter described, said receptacle being more or less oval in horizontal section and having its outer surface tapered downwardly so that when the jaws Ill are closed upon the periphery thereof, they 45 serve to hold the receptacle B against lateral or downward movement.

The outer ends of the horizontal portions of the bars 2 and 3 at their junctions with the upright arms 4, 5 and 6 are deected down- 50 wardly to form supporting, feet I3 of uniform vertical height adapted to rest upon a iiat surface for holding the receptacle A in a vertical position.

A plug-supporting bar I4 is slidable vertically 55 walong and upon the inner face of the upright porvertically elongated slot I5 for receiving a pivotal member I6 which is secured to the upright por- 5 tion of the handle arm 4 in a plane some distance above that of the upper ends of the arms 5 and VIi Aand preferably below the top of the container A, said pivotal member being extended through the slot I5 and enlarged at its inner end to assist in 10 guiding the bar |4 in its vertical movement.

The upper end of the bar |4 is inwardly oset at I4 and has its inner end extended upwardly and secured by bolts |1 or equivalent fastening means to a suitable electric plug C which is adapted to be connected by the usual exible cord or cable c to a source of electric energy, not shown.

An electric heater D is secured to and suspended from the top a of the container to extend downwardly within said receptacle and has its lower end provided with laterally spaced electrodes d similar to that shown in my Patent No. 1,879,297, September 27th, 1932, said heater being provided with suitable terminals d' extending through and above the cover a for connection with the electric plug C, the height of these terminals above the upper surface of the cover a being somewhat less than the length of the slot I5 below the pivotal member I6 when the plug is operatively engaged with the terminals to allow the plug to be discon- 30 nected from the terminals by upward displacement and then turned laterally about the axis of the pivot I6 to one side of the cover in a manner similar to that shown in my pending application Serial No. 244,217, led February 3rd, 1928.

When the plug C is operatively engaged with the terminals d', the length of the slot l5 below the pivot I6 is considerably less than the vertical height of the arms 5 of the frame I to prevent upward displacement of the receptacle A from 40 the arms 5 and 6, and thus preventing removal of the receptacle While the plug is in .electric connection with the heating element.

The cover a is removably secured to the open top of the receptacle A and is provided with an insulating member A through which the terminals of the heater D extend and from which the heater is suspended, as shown more clearly in Figure 2.

The lower ends of the electrodes d terminate a relatively short distance above the bottom of the receptacle A so that when the electric conducting liquid within the receptacle falls below the lower end of the electrodes, it will automatically break the electric circuit and thereby avoid waste of electric energy.

It is to be understood that as long as the liquid remains above the lower ends of the electrodes, it will enter the spaces between the latter to establish a liquid connection between electrodes for heating and vaporizing purposes, while any sediment which may collect in the gap between the electrodes will be precipitated to the bottom of the receptacle A to prevent short-circuiting the heating circuit,- the rise and fall of the liquid in the gap serving to cleanse the adjacent surfaces of electrodes from collections of sediment.

A filler tube I8 is releasably secured by any suitable fastening means in an opening in the insulating section A of the top a of the container A to extend some distance above said top and is provided at its upper end with a removable closure I9 having a central vertical passage 20 therethrough.

This passage is controlled by a normally closed self-closing valve 2| adapted to be opened by excess pressure of the vapor within the receptacle A and thereby to reduce to a minimum the liability of breakage or weakening of any of the parts from such excess pressure.

As illustrated, the portion of the ller tube I8 which extends through the insulating section A is reduced in diameter and has its lower end threaded and engaged by suitable clamping nuts 22,A the upper end of the ller tube being threaded internally while the closure |9 is also threaded 10 and engaged in the threaded upper end of the filler tube to form a gas-tight joint therewith when closed.

A triangular guide plate 23 is secured in the lower end of the opening 20 of the plug or closure 15 I9 to form a series of, in this instance three, openings 24 at the sides therefor through which the vapor from the interior of the receptacle A may pass into the opening 20.

'I'he valve 2| is normally seated in the upper 20 end of the opening 20 and is provided with a downwardly projecting stem 25 extending through a central opening in the guide plate 23 and some distance below the lower end of the closure I9 and has its lower end threaded and engaged with a g5 suitable nut 26.

A coil spring 21 is interposed between the nut 26 and guide plate 23 for yieldingly holding the valve 2| in its closed position, the tension of the spring being regulated to hold the valve closed 30 under normal safe internal pressures of the vapor which is adapted to open the valve when the pressure exceeds a predetermined degree or sufcient to overcome the tension of the spring 21.

The side of the filler tube I8 facing the recep- 35 tacle B is provided with an upwardly and outwardly inclined threaded opening 28 in which is secured the inner end of an outwardly and upwardly inclined vapor delivery tube or nozzle 29, the opening 28 being located between the lower 40 end of the closure plug I9 and upper face of the cover a so that the interior of the delivery tube is always in open communication with the interior of the receptacle A for receiving vapor therefrom.

The outer or upper end of the delivery tube 29 45 extends over the center of the top of thereceptacle B and is provided with a beveled annular shoulder 29 arranged at such an angle to the axis of the tube that its lower side will be substantially horizontal, said lower side being provided'50 with a threaded opening 3D for receiving the upper threaded end of a conduit 3| which extends from the top downwardly into the interior of the receptacle B co-axial therewith, in a manner hereinafter explained.

A relatively short extension tube 32 is inserted telescopically within the upper or outer end of the delivery tube 29 to extend beyond the outer end thereof and is provided with a central restricted passage 33 in open communication with 60 the interior of the receptacle A through said delivery tube 29 and ller tube I8.

'I'he inner tube 32 extends across the inner upper end of the opening 30 and also across the upper end of the conduit 3| and is provided with 65 a peripheral recess 3| and a relatively narrow lengthwise channel 34 in its periphery communicating with the interior of the conduit 3| and extending from said recess through the outer end of the tube 32 which is threaded externally. 70

A cap nut 35 is screwed upon the threaded outer end of the tube 32 to abut against the adjacent end of the delivery tube 29 and is provided with a mixing chamber 36 having a central restricted outlet 31 in axial alinement with the passage 33 75 and, therefore, in open communication with the interiorof the chamber A through the conduit 29 and filler tube I8.

The receptacle B may be of any suitable height or capacity, but as shown, is of less capacity than that of the receptacle A and is provided with a removable top or closure section B having a filler opening b as shown by dotted lines in Figure 1 and by full lines in Figure 2, said top being also provided with a central opening for receiving the spray conduit 3|.

This spray conduit preferably comprises an upper nozzle section 38 and a lower section 39, the upper section being providedwith a reduced lower end 40 threaded externa-ily and engaged by a suitable nut 4I for releasably securing it to the top B'.

The lower end of the section 38 is also threaded internally for receiving the upper threaded end of the section 39 which extends downwardly into the interior of the receptacle B to a level a short distance above the bottom thereof, as shown more clearly in Figure 2.

As previously intimated, the upper end of the section 38 is threaded and engaged in the threaded aperture 30 in the lower side of the delivery tube 29 and is adapted to enter the recess 3|' and against the upper wall thereof for holding the extension tube 32 in operative position within the delivery tube 29.

A circular closure plate 42 is pivotally mounted upon the reduced lower end of the tubular section 38 in close proximity tothe upper face of the top B and is provided with a filler opening 44 movable into and out of registration with the opening b in the cover B.

When the closure plate 42 is turned to register its opening 44 with the opening b, liquid may be supplied therethrough to the interior of the receptacle B, but when the vplate is turned to another position, it will close the opening b and thereby prevent excessive evaporation of the contents of said receptacle.

The vapor delivery tube 29 and spray tube 3| together with the extension tube 32 and cap nut constitute what may be termed a spray nozzle of which the tube 29 constitutes one branch leading to the interior of the filler tube I8 while the l other tube 3| constitutes another branch leading into the interior of the receptacle B.

When itis desired to use the receptacle as a combined vaporizer and spraying apparatus, the closure plug I9 with the safety valve 2| therein may be unscrewed and removed from the upper end of the ller tube I8, thus permitting the liquid or other material to be vaporized to be` inserted through said tube into the interior of the receptacle A until it reaches a level some distance above theelectrodes a' after which the closure plug I9 with the valve 2| therein may be returned to its closed position so that the receptacle is practically gas and water-tight except for the vapor outlet 29.

The closure plate 42 may be turned by hand to bring its opening 44 into registration with the opening b in the cover B to permit the insertion of the desired liquid therethrough into the interior of the receptacle B until the latter is substantially lled, whereupon the closure plate 42 may be moved to a position to close the opening b so that the receptacle B is practically gas-tight except for the opening through the conduit 3|.

Operation It is now evident that when the various parts of the apparatus are in the position shown in Figures 1 and 2 and the electric plug C is properly connected to a source of electric energy sufficient to heat the electrodes a', this heat will be transferred to the liquid in the 'receptacle A between the electrodes until the liquid is converted into vapor which vapor is free to pass out through the filler tube I8, delivery tube 29, extension tube 3|, and restricted outlet 31 to the atmosphere, thereby drawing the liquid from the interior of the receptacle B outwardly through the conduit 3| and peripheral channel 34 into the mixing chamber 36 lto be delivered with the escaping vapor through the outlet 31 to the atmosphere.

In case the pressure of the vapor within the receptacle A should-become excessive, as for example, through clogging of the restricted passages 33 and 31, this excess pressure would automatically open the relief valve 2| and allow the escape of the vapor to the atmosphere without endangering the integrity of the apparatus, thus indicating the necessity for cleaning out the restricted passages. Y

In the event that the liquid within the receptacle A should fall below the level of the lower end of the electrodes a, the heating circuit would be automatically broken by the absence of the conducting liquid between the electrodes, thereby increasing the safety of the apparatus in the hands of unskilled users and avoiding waste of electric energy while at the same time the absence of the escape of spray from the spray nozzle would indicate that the liquid supply in the receptacle A was too low for eifective work.

When it is desired to disassemble the parts of the apparatus, it will first be necessary to remove the plug C out of contact with the terminals of the heater by upward and lateral displacement and also to remove the locking member I2 whereupon the jaws I0 may be spread apart to release the' receptacle B and allow the latter to drop downwardly as the cap B' is unscrewed by turning upon the section 3|.

The receptacle A with the cover A thereon carrying the cover B' of the receptacle B may be removed from the frame I by upward displacement,v thus permitting the removal of the cap A.

In case the extension tube 32 becomes clogged, the cap nut 35 may be unscrewed therefrom or the conduit 3| may be unscrewed or loosened in the opening 30 sufficiently to allow the extension tube 32 to be withdrawn outwardly to permit said tube to be thoroughly cleaned, it being understood. that when the parts of the apparatus are assembled, the receptacle B and its cover B will be partially supported from the tube 29.

The reverse operations will, of course, be necessary in re-assembling the various parts of the apparatus and, therefore, it is deemed unnecessary to describe the manner of re-assembling.

While the apparatus as a Whole is particularly simple and highly efficient in operation, itis evident that some changes may be made in the detail construction without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim is:

l. A spray nozzle comprising a tubular member, one end of which is adapted to be connected to a source of fluid pressure, said member having an aperture in one side thereof, a tubular extension inserted telescopically in the other end of said member, said extension having a recess in its periphery in registration with said aperture, a cap secured to the end of said tubular extension provided with a mixing chamber and a4 discharge opening, said extension having a channel connesting said mixing chamber with said recess, and a delivery tube extending into said aperture adapted to be connected with the liquid container for delivering liquid to be atomized to the nozzle.

2. A spray nozzle comprising a tubular member, one end of which is adapted to be connected to a source f fluid pressure, said member having a threaded aperture in one side thereof, a tubular extension inserted telescopically in the other end of said member, said extension having a recess in its periphery in registration with said aperture, a cap secured to the end of said tubular extension provided with a mixing chamber and a discharge opening, said extension having a channel connecting said mixing chamber with said recess, and a. delivery tube extending into said aperture adapted to-be connected with a liquid container for delivering liquid to be atomized to the nozzle, said delivery tube being threaded into said aperture and extending into 10 said recess for holding said extension in operative position within said tubular member.

MAX KATZMAN. 

